- GILBERT BAYORAN
Following the involvement of his group in the killing of an elderly couple April 15 in Brgy. San Isidro, Toboso, Negros Occidental, the reward for the arrest of rebel leader, Roger Favillar, alias Arenel Tapang, has been raised to P1 million.
The bounty was increased twice this month, from P900,000 on April 7, to P1 million before the month ends.
The group of Tapang, with one of its members recently killed in an encounter with 79th Infantry Battalion soldiers in Brgy. Binagyuhan, Escalante City, was linked to numerous killings of civilians, suspected as military informants, and barangay officials in the hinterlands of Calatrava and Toboso.
“The amount of P1 million shall be given to anyone who could provide information that would lead to the arrest and/or neutralization of Fabillar,” Lt. Col. Jjay Javines, 79th Infantry Battalion commanding officer, said in a statement.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Fabillar may contact the 79IB through hotline numbers (0963) 873-9989 (Smart) and (0927) 339-2481 (Globe).
The group of Favillar is a remnant of the dismantled Northern Negros Front of Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor (KR-NCBS).
The KR-NCBS, according to the AFP Visayas Command, is now suffering from leadership vacuum, following the death of its leader, Rogelio Posadas, in an encounter with 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental.
Six months ago, its regional commander, Romeo Nanta, also died in an encounter with 94IB in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City./GB
